8,000 cops deployed for class opening

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has deployed around 8,000 police officers as part of security preparations for the opening of classes in June, an official said yesterday.

NCRPO chief Director Camilo Pancratius Cascolan said the police officers will secure not only schools but roads and bus terminals in Metro Manila.

“We also deployed bus marshals especially along EDSA,” Cascolan said in an interview with reporters after a news forum in Quezon City.

Cascolan said the 29,000-strong NCRPO remains on full alert and ready to provide security to students next month.

Classes in public elementary and high schools nationwide will start on June 4, according to the Department of Education.

Meanwhile, the DepEd yesterday reminded school officials not to accept any form of support from tobacco companies during the school maintenance activities for the opening of classes.

Secretary Leonor Briones cited an existing DepEd order that prohibits accepting gifts, donations and sponsorships directly and indirectly from the tobacco industry, including those that may be coursed through DepEd stakeholders, partners or third parties in the guise of corporate social responsibility projects.

“We cannot consider as partners those industries that undermine our efforts to fulfill our mandate, which includes the promotion of healthy environments in schools through our tobacco policies,” she said in a statement.

The prohibition applies not just for school maintenance activities, but in other projects as well throughout the school year.  – Janvic Mateo